affordability

American  

[uh-fawrd-uh-bil-i-tee] / əˌfɔrd əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality of being affordable.

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Explanation

Affordability is a quality of being inexpensive. Because of the affordability of the apples at the orchard, we went ahead and bought a whole bushel. The adjective affordability describes things you can afford to pay for because they don't cost too much. People move to certain neighborhoods because of the affordability of housing there, and others decide the affordability of community college makes it a great place to get an education. Sometimes this word is used to mean "cost or price," so someone might say, "The affordability of healthcare these days is just terrible!"

Example Sentences

“Higher-for-longer mortgage rates are becoming more widely accepted, and pent-up demand built over years of constrained affordability and limited inventory is beginning to assert itself,” she said in a statement.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 18, 2026

That’s led to fears that the tax, in some ways, is making the affordability crisis worse by suppressing new supply.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

GM’s operating profit has fluctuated between about $10 billion and $15 billion over the past five years, weathering Covid, weakening new-vehicle affordability, tariffs, and shifting EV policies.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

On Monday, data from The National Association of Home Builders’ showed builder sentiment declined as affordability pressures from elevated mortgage rates and building materials persisted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

When he finished speaking, much of the talk in the room turned to affordability.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French